Assembling machinery



May 11, 1943- A. KLAMMT ETIAL ASSEMBLING MACHINERY Filed Oct. 28 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Emma INVENTORS ARTHUR KLAMI'IT. BY 650/105 M.KRETZSCHMAR. 0mm km ATTORNEYS y 1943- A. KLAMMT ETAL ASSEMBLINGMACHINERY Filed Oct. 28, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A KLAMMT E1 AL 2,318,695

ASSEMBLING MACHINERY Filed Oct. 28, 1939 S'SheetS-Sheet 3 INVENTORSARTHUR KLAMMT' BY GEORGE W/fnsrzscrrmk ATTORNEYS Patented May 11, 1943UNITED STTES E'NT OFFICE Kretzschmar,

Garfield, N J assignors to W. M.

Ritter Lumber Company, a corporation of West Virginia ApplicationOctober 28, 1939, Serial No. 301,716

15 Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in assembling machinery forapplying spots of adhesive to pieces of material in spaced relation.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means forapplying adhesive and for automatically assembling individual piecesinto composite groups.

A further object is to provide an automatic assembling machine adaptedto the assembling of wood slats into groups suitable for use in parquetflooring.

Another object is to provide a machine of the above type includingimproved means for handling, controlling, and locating the slats duringthe spotting and assembling process.

Another object is to provide a machine of the above type which isreadily adjustable for assembling difierent lengths and numbers of slatsinto suitable composite groups.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear during thecourse of the following description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of theassembling machine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental end View of the same showing theconveying apparatus and frame structure;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental section illustrating the control ofthe slats in the magazine;

. Figure 4 is a plan view of the machine;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the conveyor platen,handling and positioning apparatus;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional View of a preferred form of the spottingmechanism;

Figure 7 is a detail cross section illustrating the spotting operation;

Figure 8 is an edge-wise view of a spotted slat;

Figure 9 is a detail front view of the second or main clamping head;

Figure 10 is a similar view illustrating a conveyor cleat under-runningthe main clamping plate;

Figure 11 is a detail view illustrating the operation of the pneumaticcontrol valve; and

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view of the throttling check valve.

Referring to Figure l, the numeral generally designates a framecomprising channel- 'shaped side members 2| secured to cross members 22and provided with legs 23 mounted on a or suitable skids.

support 24, which support may be either the floor m Two cross shafts 25and 26 are journalled in the side members 2| respectively at the left orreceiving and right or discharge ends of the frame 20.

Sprockets 2! and 28 on the shafts 25 and 26 carry endless chains 29,preferably of the roller type, to which are secured evenly spacedconveyor cleats 30, as shown in detail in Figure 2'. Throughout thebottom reach of the chains 29 the cleats 30 are supported on thelowerhorizontal legs 3| of the side channels 2|, the ends of upper horizontallegs 32 being cut away at 33 and 34 to provide room for the sprockets2'! and 29 and to allow the cleats and chains to approach and leave thesprockets.

Throughout the upper reach of the chains 29 the cleats 30 slide along aplaten 35 suitably secured in the frame 20 with side clearance for thechains. Angular side rails 36, secured to the tops of channel members2|, overlie the chains 29 and ends of cleats 30 to guard the same andalso serve as supports for various pieces of apparatus hereinafterdescribed.

Second and third cross shafts 31 and 38, also journalled in the sidemembers 2|, carry small sprockets 39 and 49. Continuous .chains 4| onthe sprockets 39 and 40 have secured thereto a single cross cleat 42.The described parts are so located and proportionedthat on the lower runof the chains 4| the cleat 42 rides on the lower channel legs 3| betweenthe main conveyor chains 29. The shaft 31 is adapted m be drivencontinuously through an exterior sprocket 43, chain 44, and drivesprocket 45, Figure 4, from the speed-reducing gearing 46 of a motor 41,Figure 1, the motor and gearing being mounted on a cross bracket 48,secured to the central legs 23. It will be seen that during eachcomplete circuit of the constantly-running chains 4| the cleat 42,moving to the left on its bottom travel, engages one of the cleats 3|)on the main chain 29 and moves the latter to the left a distance equalto the inter-spacing of the cleats 30. By this means the entire systemof main'chains 29 and cleats 30 is moved intermittently the cleats 30travelling forward by steps from left to right along the platen 35,Figure 1; t

A plurality of longitudinal guide rails 49, 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d, 49c and49 held in position by suitable overlying cross members 50, Figures 1.,3 and 4, divide the space above the platen 35 into parallel lanes, 5|,5|a, 5|-b, 5|c, 5|d arid- 5|e as shown most clearly in Figure 5, inwhich figure the overlying cross members and other apparatus havecam-grooves ends of the, cross-head 18. The grooves 8| preferare omittedto more fully illustrate the underlying structure.

The guide rails 49, 49a, etc., are spaced just sufficiently above theplaten 35 to allow the cleats to move beneath the former, the height ofthe cleats being less than the thickness of a slat 52, as shown inFigures 1 and 3. For clarity in the following description, thelongitudinal spaces between successive stop positions of the cleats 38,beginning at the left end of the platen 35, are hereinafter referred toas A, the loading station; B, the camming station; C, the spottingstation; D, the kick-down station; E, the first assembling station; F,the final aligning station; G, the final assembling station; and H, theinspection or pre-discharge station.

A magazine 53, comprising vertical partitions 54 forming upwardextensions of the guide rails 49, 490., etc., is provided at station A,the end wall 55 of the magazine having its lower edge spaced above theplaten a distance only sufficient to allow the egress of a singleflat-lying slat 52 at a time from each magazine stall as illustrated inFigure 3.

- A cross shaft 55, located beneath station B and adapted to becontinuously driven through a spropket 51 and chain 58, Figure 4, from asprocket 59 on the shaft 3'! at the circuit speed of chain 4|, carries aplurality of cams 60 having axially sloped lobes 6|, Figures 1 and 5.Slots 62 are provided in the platen 35 above the earns 80, allowing thelobes 6| during par-t of their rotation to 'move up through the lanesbetween guide rails49, 48a, etc., and to engage and tip or swing up onedge any slats resting in station B as shown in Figure l.

Auxiliary guide rails 53, Figure 5, have angular portions 54 secured tothe rails, 49a, 4%, etc., to facilitate the guiding of the edged-upslats into the narrow lanes defined by the straight portions 65. Thesenarrow lanes are of a width slightly greater than the thickness of aslat 52. These narrow lanes extend through the greater portion ofspotting position C.

A shaft 65, hereinafter referred to as the spottershaft', extendscross-wise above the frame 28 in station D. A frame comprisingside'membersfi'l. and 68 rotatably mounted around the bearings of thespotter shaft, and a terminal cross-bar 69, Figures 1, 4 and 6, hassecured there- ;to the spotter 18, the latter overhanging the guiderails m station C. The main members of the spotter 18 comprise anairetight tank H mounted on a bottom valveplate '12, showrrin enlargeddetail in Figure 6. The 'tank 1|- is adapted to hold'a quantity ofviscousadhesive 13, preferably an aqueous diffusion of rubber,previously referred to in this speci- 'fication. An air-tight filler cap14, Figures 1 and 4-, is provided in the top of the tank H, and a pipe15 is adapted to admit compressed air above the adhesive 13 from asuitable source as hereafter set forth in greater detail.

r A plurality of plungers 'l6 are slidably mounted in sealing relationin the valve plate 12, these plungers extending longitudinally throughthe plate 12 above-the narrow guide lanes in station C and beingprovided with suitable packing glands .11, Figure 6. The rear ends ofthe plungers 15 are secured in a common cross-head I8 which is .slidableinguide-ways 19 in the frame members .81 and 68.

Inwardly facing box cams 88 on the shaft 65 8! engaging rollers 82 onthe ably comprise inner and outer circumferential portions ofapproximately 90 degrees of arc. By this construction it is evident thatduring one revolution of the shaft 58 the cross-head l8 and plungers 76are moved through a forward and a rearward stroke, these parts remainingstationary at each end of their strokes during approximately 90 degreesof rotation of the shaft 66 and cams 80.

Vertical holes 83 in the plungers 18 are adapted to registersimultaneously with passages 84 in the valve-plate 12 and with nozzles85 extending through the bottom of the plate. The parts are so locatedthat registry occurs at mid-stroke of the plungers in each direction,and as the ports register as described, the air pressure above the bodyof adhesive 13 causes a spurt of adhesive to be ejected from each nozzle85 and deposited in the groove 85 of a slat 52 positioned under thenozzles as illustrated in Figures 6 and '7. The port and nozzlecombinations described thus constitute spotting valves adaptedto depositspots 81 of adhesive in the groove 86 in spaced relation as shown inFigure8, the spacing of course corresponding to the spacing of thenozzles 85. Obviously the device may be constructedwith any desiredspacing and .number of valves. for, any desired lengths of slats, andwhen operating with short slats 52, as herein illustrated, unwantedvalves may be disabled by replacingnozzles 85 with plugs 88, Figure 6.Thegrooveof. the end slat of a group forming a parquet block should notreceive any spots of adhesive. By replacing the nozzles 85 above saidend slat with plugs' 88, the spotting is disabled forthat particulargroove.

In the embodiment shown, the machine is provided with six lanes,adaptingv it to the assembly of blocks of six slats, requiring fiveadhesive joints, and the spotter is accordingly constructed toaccommodate five plungers 16 in the plateylZ and cross-head 18. However,the deviceis illustrated herein as assembling four-slat blocks,requiring only three adhesive joints, and during such operation two ofthe plungers I6 may be replaced withblank rods 89, Figure 4, or'plugs 88may be put in place of the nozzles 85 (as aforesaid) to disable the twoadditional sets of spotting valves. 1 V I Small buttons 90, Figures 5and '7, are slidable throughthe auxiliary rails 53 and are pressedinward by fiat springs 9|. When slats 52 enter the lines under thespotter, they engage buttons 90 as shown in Figure '7, and the pressureand friction ,of the buttons hold the slats firmly against the. rails490, etc., in proper lateral and longitudinal registry under the nozzles85. l The spotter shaft .66 is driven via sprocket 92, chain 93 andsprocket 94 from the cam-shaft 58 at one-half the speed of the latterand of the drive-chainiflt. Thus one spotting operation is providedfollowing each feeding movement of the cleats 30, spotting beingaccomplished alternately by forward and backward strokesof the plungers16. The amount. of adhesive deposited in the spots 81 is a function ofthe speed of the plungers, the size of valve ports and nozzles, theviscosity of the adhesive and the airpressure on the latter. Varioussizes of nozzles can be used, and the air pressure may be. regulated ashereinafter set forth, to adjust the volume of the spots for anyproperly viscous adhesive. 1 v

A slidablej-rod 95, Figures 1, {l and 5, is disposed laterally above theguide rails 49,4911, etc., in the kick-down stationD. One end of the rod.95 forms the'plungerof asmall penumatic ram cylinder 98, the other endbeing slidablyretained in a support 91. A compression spring 98 normallyholds the plunger end of the rod in extreme inward position in the ramcylinder 96. Small kicker feet 99, normally project downward intonotches I in the tops of guide rails 49, 49a, etc.

When slats 52 have been fed forward fromspotting station C to station D,still in their edgewise vertical position, compressed air is admittedthrough a small pipe IOI to the cylinder 96, forcing the rod 95 outwardagainst the compression of spring 98. The feet 99 engage the upper edgesof the slats, thus kicking or tipping the latter sidewise (toward thefront of the machine as seen in Figures 1 and 4) and down into flathorizontal positions between the guide rails. Shallow grooves I02 areprovided in the platen 35 to receive the tongues of the slats to preventthe tongues from slipping sidewise prior to or during the kick-downoperation.

As the slats 52 are fed forward by cleats 30 from kick-down station D tofirst assembling station E they pass under and engage a Weightedswinging flap or apron I03 which presses them against the platen 35 toassure flatness and also exerts a frictional drag to align them evenlyagainst their feeding cleat. In station E this aligning duty is taken upby a hinged wire brush I 04 which presses evenly on all slats andprevents them from coasting out of contact with their feeding cleat 30when the latter stops. In Figure 5 the brush I04 has been cut away toclarify the relationship of the underlying parts, as previously noted.

An assembling bar brush I04 as shown in cured to a plunger I00 in a longpneumatic cylinder I01. The bar I05 is slidably guided on cross rods I08and is normally held retracted as shown in Figures 4 and 5 by wireca'bles I09 running over pulleys H0, Figure 4, and secured to longtension springs III, Figure 1.

It will be noted that all guide rails except the extreme side guide rail40f terminate in station D. When a group of slats is fed, forward intoposition E, therefore, they lie initially in separated relation as shownin dot and dash lines. Figure 5. Air is then admitted to the cylinderI01, causing the piston I06 to project the assembling bar I05 forward.The latter in its cross travel gathers the slats 52 and presses themto-- gether against the rail 49) with only sufiicient pressure tolightly enter the tongues into the grooves. Air is then released fromthe cylinder I01, allowing the bar I05 to be retracted by the springsIII and cables I09 to normal position, and leaving the partiallyassembled block of slats 52 resting against the rail 40] as shown inFig' ure 4.

As the next feeding operation starts and the block is carried forwardtoward station F the brush I04 continues to exert a frictional restraintwhich holds back and re-aligns any slat of theblock which may have beenslightly displaced forward in the first assembling operation described.

As the partially clamped or assembled block of slats 52 is fed intostation F it is engaged with light side guiding pressure between sideguide rail 49] and an adjustable. parallel guide II2'. Figure 4. Thislight side guiding pressure, together with the forward push of the cleat30, assures final parallelism and alignmentof the slats as the block isagain fed forward into final assembling station G. This is due to thefact that the guide; rail LI 2 and. the cleat; 30; are; always; at

I05, arched to clear the Figure 1, is centrally seright angles with eachother and mutually hold the slats of the block in perfectly squarerelationship with each other and with the motion of thecleat along theplaten.

Station G is provided with a pneumatic ram II3 of relatively largecylinder diameter secured to the side frame members 36 and 2I by meansof a yoke support H4. The ram H3 has a piston rod II5 adjustably securedin a cross-head II1, an extension --rod II8 being slidably guided in abacking member II9 similar to the cross head and secured to the sidemember of the main frame 20. The cross-head II1 is slidably guided oncross rods I20 and is normally held retracted by compression springs I2Ion the rods I 20. The cross head I I1 has vertically slidable therein apressure shoe I22 suspended on headed bolts I23 as shown in detail inFigures 9 and 10. The shoe' I22 is tapered on its left end, and normallyhangs close to the platen 35 as in Figure 9,- to firmly engage the sideof the slat block. During a feeding operation, however, a cleat 30engages the tapered end of the shoe I22, the latter then rising as shownin Figure 10 to allow the cleat to pass thereunder.

The backing member H9 is also equipped with a pressure shoe I24, Figure4, but as this shoe is substantially the same in structure and arrangement as shoe I22, no further detailed description of shoe I24 isnecessary herein.

When the block of slats 52 is fed into station G and comes to resttherein, air is admitted to the ram cylinder II3, forcing the cross-head1' forward. The slats 52 of the block are pressed together between theshoes I 22 and I24 with a relatively heavy pressure, firmly joining thetongues and grooves with their hinge-spots of adhesive and completingthe final assembling operation. As the air is released from theramcylinder II3 the springs I2I force the cross-head II1 back to normalposition, freeing the assembled block as shown in Figure 4.

The next feeding operation carries the block into an inspection stationH, after which it is discharged from the end of the platen 35, tostorage or to any desired machine for further processing, such forexample as a machine for cutting tongues and grooves on the ends of thecomposite blocks.

Compressed air for use throughout the described process is suppliedthrough a pipe I25, Figure 4, from any suitable source. The pipe lineI25 leads to a spring plunger inlet valve I26, which latter is adaptedwhen actuated to admit air to a short longitudinal conduit I21, thencethrough a vertical nipple I28, Figure 1, and a lateral pipe I29, Figure4, to a longitudinal pipe line I 30 connected at one end to the ramcylinder I I3 through a check valve I3I. The other end of line I30 isconnected via branches HH and I32 with the pneumatic cylinders 96 andI01 respectively. Valves I33 and I34 are provided in the branches I 0|and I 32 for use in regulating the action of the pneumatic rams ifdesired by throttling the air supply thereto.

A second spring-plunger type valve I35, Figures 1 and 4, is connected tothe short conduit I21 and when operated is adapted to exhaust the airfrom the latter to the atmosphere through an open elbow I36.

The inlet and exhaust valves I20 and I35 are arranged opposite eachother as shown in detail in Figure 11, the plungers I 31 and I38 beingdirected inwardly toward each other. A flat finger lever I39 mounted ona rocker pin I40, projects 4 upwardly between-the plungers I31 and I38.The rockerpin I49 iSfJ'Ournalled in the side frame member 2| as"showniin Figure l, but to clarify the relationship of the working partsthe supporting frame member 2I is omitted from'detail Figure 11.The'inner end of pin I40 has secured thereto a lever jI4:It adapted tobe engaged by the cleat '42 onith'e'. continuously moving chain 4I. Asthe cleat 42 iscarried upward'over the sprocket 39 the cleat raises thelever I41I :as shown .in Figure 11, rocking the pin I49counter-clockwise and causing the finger I34 to depress the plungerI31,'thereby opening the inlet valve I26 and admitting compressed air tothe various cylinders through the piping previously described;

When the cleat 42 clears the'end of the lever I the latter drops bygravity, swinging the finger I39 clockwise to the position shown in dotand dash lines, Figure 11. By this operation the inlet valve I26 isallowed to close and'the exhaust valve I35 is opened, releasing the airfrom the various pneumatic cylinders through the elbow I36. The checkvalve I3I in the air line I35 to the large cylinder H3 is provided tothrottle the exhaust of air from the'latter. For this purpose the valveis constructed as shown in Figure 12. The valve member or swinging diskI42 has a small central orifice I43. Air moving toward the cylinder,that is in passes freely past the valve member I42 which swings to allowits passage in the usual manner of a check valve. When the exhaust valveis opened, however, the member I42 swings shut, and the returning air isforced to the small orifice I43. By this'means the ram cylinder acts asa dash-pot against the expansion of the cross-head springs I2I, causingthe crosshead I I! to be returned to initial position without shock. Anupward branch I44 of the main air supply pipe I leads through a shut-offvalve I45 and a pressure regulator I46 to a pipe'I4'I connected to theair pipe 15 of the spotter 10, as shown in Figure 1, this pipe linehaving been cut away in Figure 4 to avoid undue complication of thedrawings. The regulator may be set to -maintain any desired pressure inthe spotter tank 1|, a gauge I48 being provided to indicate thepressure.

It has been noted that the side members 6'! and 68 of the spotter frameare rotatably mounted around the bearings of the spotter shaft 65. Dueto this construction, after disconnecting the air pipe 15 the entirespotter mechanism may be swung upward about the center of shaft 66 forcleaning, changing nozzles, etc. The operation of the machine, describedabove in detail at the various stations, may be briefly summarized asfollows:

Slats 52 are loaded in the stalls of magazine III, the slats beingstacked fiat with their grooved edges toward the near side of themachine, Figures 1, 3 and 4. A cleat feeds one slat from each loadedstall into camming station B, where the cams 60 tip the slats upward ontheir tongued edges. The cleat then feeds the slats into the narrowguide lanes under the spotter in station C. The spotter deposits spacedspots of adhesive in the up-turned grooves of the slats.

The cleat 30 next advances the slats 52 to station D, where they arekicked down by the pneumatically actuated feet 99. Passing from stationD to station E, the slats are flattened, restrained and .aligned thedirection of the arrow, l

pass through by the apron I03 and the ,wirebrush I04. vIn station E theassembling bar I05 gathers andflightly assembles the various slats 52"into a; composite .bl'ock. Passing into station F 'theitlightlyassembled block is finally aligned. In station G the'block is given afinal heavy squeeze by means of the pneumatic ram 5H3 to, complete theassembling operation, after which the completed block is moved throughinspection staion H' and discharged. When a slat 52 isslid under a stackin the magazine 53, unless the remainder of the stack is supported'therear of the latter will tip downward, possibly causing slats to slidebackward from the stack; To prevent this occurrence, supporting pins I49are provided, these pins being slidable vertically through the platen 35in the magazinestalls' The pins I49 are attached to a common cross barI50 and are movable by a rocker I5I, Figure 1. A foot I52 on the rockerI5I is adapted to be engaged by cleats 39 on the feed chain 29. Duringthe feeding operation, after an active cleat 39 has passed over the topsof pins I49 in pushing a slat 52 from the bottom of a stack, a lowercleat engages the foot I52, rocking the rocker I5I clockwise. Thisthrusts the pins I49 upward behind the feeding cleat 30 to support therear of the stack as shown in Figure 3. This support is maintained untilthe feeding cleat 39 has moved clear of the magazine, when the foot I52is released and withdraws the pins I49 downward to normal position asshown in Figure 1.

When the machine is operated at high speed there may be a tendency forslats 52 to coast forward in the eamming Station B after the feedingmechanism stops. To prevent the slats from coasting out of propercamming position, a row of stop pins I53 is attached to the frontportion of the rocker I5I. These pins normally project up through theplaten 35 and serve to stop sliding of the slats at the end of feed.When the rocker I5I is moved as previously described to raise thesupporting pins I49, the stop pins I53 are drawn downward into theplaten 35, allowing the feeding cleats 39 to pass over them withoutinterference. To allow for processing slats of various lengths,additional rows of holes I54 ar provided to accommodate the pins I53 indifferent spacing positions, the rocker I5I being constructed withadditional holes I55 for correspondingly different attachnient of thestop pin assembly.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the presentinvention provides a machine adapted to carry through the completeassembling process automatically and at high speed, discharging acompleted composite block at each feeding interval; the slat beingprocessed are positively governed and controlled throughout the processwhereby any jamming or similar trouble is avoided. It is also evidentthat the machine is readily adaptable to assembling various lengths andnumbers ofslats.

While the invention has been described in preferred form, it is notlimited to the exact structures set'forth and illustrated asvariouschanges and modifications maybe made without departing from thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an assemblingmachine for tongue and groove slats in which saidslats normally lie in a horizontal plane in combination, means forshifting 'pluralities of said slats into vertical planes with thegrooves uppermost, spotting means to simultaneously deposit adhesive insaid lastmentioned grooves, shifting means cooperative with saidspotting means and in timed relation therewith for again shifting saidpluralities of slats to said horizontal plane, and means to associatesaid slats together in tongue and groove relation and thereby form acomposite block.

2. In an assembling machine for tongue and groove slats in which saidslats normally lie in a horizontal plane and in which pluralities of thesame are moved in steps therethrough, a stage .111 which mechanism isprovided for simultaneously shifting all of the slats of a from saidhorizontal plane to spaced vertical planes with the grooves uppermost,means for simultaneously depositing adhesive in the bottom of a numberof said grooves, and means for simultaneously swinging all saidlast-mentioned slats back into the horizontal plane after said adhesiveis deposited in said grooves, thereby placing the slats in position tohave succeeding operations performed thereon.

3. In an assembling machine for slats with interlocking edges in whichsaid slats are normally placed in said machine in a plurality of stacks,means to feed one slat from the bottom of each stack, a stage in whichmechanism is provided for shifting said fed slats from the commonfeeding plane to a plurality of spaced parallel planes angulartherewith, with said edges uppermost to receive adhesive, means fordepositing adhesive on most of said edges, means for returning said lastslats to said common feeding plane, and means for moving said last slatsto bring their interlocking edges into engagement, thereby forming aparquet block.

4. In an assembling machine for tongue and groove slats in which aplurality of stacks of said slats normally lies in a horizontal planeand in which pluralities of the same are moved in steps therethrough,one slat from each stack being simultaneously fed during each step, astage in which mechanism including a plurality of spaced cams isprovided for shifting said slats from said horizontal plane to aplurality of spaced vertical planes with the grooves uppermost, mean fordepositing spots of adhesive in the bottoms of all of said groovesexcept one, and means for swinging said slats back into the horizontalplane after said adhesive is deposited in said grooves, thereby placingthe slats in position to be brought together with their adjacent tonguesand grooves in engagement.

5. In an assembling machine for tongue and roove slats in which saidslats normally lie in horizontal planes in a plurality of stacks,intermittently acting feeding mean for simultaneously feeding one slatfrom each stack during each feeding step, intermittently effective meansfor simultaneously engaging and shifting the fed slats from saidhorizontal plane to a plurality of spaced vertical planes with thegrooves uppermost, means for depositing adhesive in the bottoms of atleast some of said grooves, and intermittent means for engaging andswinging said slats back into the horizontal plane after the adhesive isdeposited in said grooves, thereby placing the slats in position to havesucceeding operations performed thereon.

6. In an assembling machine for tongue and groove slats in which saidslats normally lie in a horizontal plane and in which pluralities of thesame are moved in steps therethrough, cam means for eifecting theshifting of said slats from said horizontal plane to a plurality ofvertical given plurality a plurality of planes with the groovesuppermost, means for depositing adhesive in the bottoms of at least someof said grooves, and pneumatically-controlled means for swinging saidslats back into the horizontal plane after the deposit of said adhesive,thereby placing the slats in position to have succeeding operationsperformed thereon.

7. An assembling machine according to claim 6 in which said slats arelaterally engaged and firmly held in said vertical planes during thetime said adhesive is deposited.

8. An assembling machine according to claim 6 in which spring meanslaterally engages and holds said slats in said vertical planes whilesaid adhesive is being deposited. Y

9. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein said associating meansincludes means to 10- cats said slats in adjacent tongue-and-grooverelationship, means to move said slats laterally into light engagement,means to accurately align said slats, and means t press said alignedslats into firm cohesive engagement.

10. In an assembling machine for slats, in combination, a platen, meansto intermittently feed groups of slats along said platen through aplurality of successive processing stations, means in one of saidstations to deposit adhesive on certain slats of each group, means inanother station and operable by compressed air to lay the slats of eachgroup in assembling relationship, means in another station and operableby compressed air to gather all said slats of each group into partialassembly engagement, mean in another station and operable by compressedair to press all said slats of each group into final c0- hesiveassembly, means including a common valve to admit compressed airsimultaneously to all said compressed air operative means, and. meansoperatively connected with said feeding means to actuate said valve.

11. The combination claimed in claim 10 wherein said feeding meansincludes endless chains carrying a plurality of spaced feeding cleatsmovable along said platen, and other end less chains, adapted to beoperated at constant speed and carrying a single driving cleat adaptedto successively engage said feeding cleats to move the same, and whereinsaid valve operating means includes a lever adapted to be engaged bysaid single driving cleat.

12. The combination claimed in claim 10 includinga compressed air supplyline leading to said valve, wherein said adhesive depositing meanscomprises means t apply predetermined pneumatic ejection pressure tosaid adhesive including a branch compressed air line connected to saidsupply line and a pressure-regulator in said branch line.

13. In an assebling machine for slats, in combination, a platen having aspotting station, a kick-down station and a first assembling station, aplurality of spaced feeding cleats adapted to intermittently move groupsof slats throughout said stations in the order named, means in saidspotting station to deposit spots of adhesive on up turned edges of saidslats, means in said kickdown station to tip said slats into flatengagement with said platen, a hinged apron overlying part of saidkick-down station and adapted to engage said slats during feed thereoffrom said kick-down into said first assembling station whereby flatnessof said slats on said platen may be assured and maintained, a hingedbrush overlying a part of said first assembling station and adapted tofrictionally engage said slats to hold the same in alignment againstsaid feeding cleats, and means including a transversely movable bar in,said first assembling station to gather said frictionally aligned slatsof each group transversely into partial engagement.

14. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said spotting meanscomprises a tank of adhesive, a plurality of nozzles, several meansoperating in definite intervals for placing said nozzles incommunication with the adhesive in said tank, and means for disabling atleast one of said several means and thereby preventing its nozzle fromcommunication with the adhesive in said tank.

15. In an assembling machine for tongue and groove slats in which saidslats normally lie in a horizontal plane, means for generally movingpluralities of said slats through said machine in steps in saidhorizontal plane, cam means for shifting said slats from the horizontalplane to a plurality of vertical planes during one of said steps topermit an operation to be performed on the upper edges of at least someof said slats, and means operating upon said last-mentioned slats,during a succeeding one of said steps, for returning said last slats tothe horizontal plane to permit additional operations to be performedthereon.

ARTHUR KLAMMT. GEORGE W. KRETZSCHMAR. 1

